Power transmitting mechanism



Dec. 19, 1933. A w. ARNQLD 1,939,756

0 POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Original Filed July 6, 1931 8 Sheet-Sheetl Dec. 19, 1933. I A, w- ARNOLD 1,939,756

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Original Filed July 6, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet2 ww Wyk/wld.

a@ @al Dec. 19, 1933. A. w. ARNOLD 1,939,756

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Original Filed July 6. 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet3 abtozmq Dec. 19, 1933. A, w. ARNOLD 1,939,756

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANI SM Original Filed July 6, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet4 Dec. 19, 1933. A. w. ARNOLD 1,939,756

POWER TRANSMITTING MEGHANI SM original Filed July 6, 1931 8 sheets-sheet5 Dec. 19, 1933. A. w- IARNOLD POWER TRANSMITT ING MECHANI SM OriginalFiled July 6, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 19, 1933. Av1/ ARNOLD 1,939,756

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Original Filed July 6, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet'7 [00 'fi/Q, 25, 9 zo [Q n "I'l 1 2 I a Jzz i I l 1-5125 L Dec. 19,1933. A w, ARNOLD 1,939,756

POWER TRANSMI TTI NG MECHANI SM Original Filed July 6, `1931 8Sheelzs-Shee'fI 8 Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-*lcsApplication July 6, 1931, Serial No. 549,012

Renewed May 2, 1933 8 Claims. (Cl. 'I4-7) For illustrative purposes theinvention has,

been disclosed as a differential mechanism, such as is used in drivingthe traction Wheels of automobiles, and is peculiarly adapted for thatpurpose, though it will be readily seen by those skilled in the art thatits utility is not so restricted.

In the accompanying drawings several embodiments of the invention aredisclosed, all comprehending the same fundamental principles ofstructure, but having specific differences that are desirable underdifferent conditions of use. The embodiments shown and hereinafterexplained may be said to fall into two general types with illustrativeexamples of each type.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of adifferential transmission mechanism illustrating one embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the two power transmitting yokemembers employed in the structure of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the inner end portions of theshaft members showing the wrists thereon.

Figure 7 is an end View of one of said shaft members.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the inner bearing shoes.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the outer bearing shoes.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modied form of sectional bearingshoe that may be employed instead of that shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a pair'of bearing shoe plates thatmay be utilized instead of the forms shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10.

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through another embodiment ofthe invention.

Figure 13 is a sectional view on the line 13--13 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view on the line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional View through another form ofconstruction.

Figure 16 is a sectional view on the line 16-16 60 of Figure 15.

Figure 1'7 is a detail sectional view on the line 17-17 of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the yokes in separated relation asemployed in the form of construction shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17.

Figure 19 is a longitudinal sectional view through still anotherembodiment of the invention.

Figure 20 is a sectional view on the line 20-20 70 of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a sectional view on the line 21-21 of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of the power transmitting yoke members.of the structure shown in Figures 19, 2O and 21.

Figure 23 is an end view of one of the shafts and its wrists of the formillustrated in Figures 19-21 inclusive. y

Figure 24 is a perspective View of the coact- 80 ing end portion of thother shaft.

Figure 25 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment.

Figure 26 is a cross sectional view on the line 26-26 of Figure 25.

Figure 2,7 is a detail sectional view on the line 2'7-27 of Figure 26.

Figure 28 is a detail perspective view of the power transmitting yokemembers of the structure shown in Figures 25, 26 and 27.

Figure 29 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 30 is a sectional view on the line 30-30 of Figure 29.

Figure 31 is a, detail cross sectional view on 95 the line 31-31 ofFigure 30.

Figure 32 is a detail perspective view of the power transmitting yokemembers of the structure shown in Figures 29, 30 and 31.

Figure 33 is a detail perspective view of one. 100 section of the cageof Figures 29 and 30.

The three structures shown in longitudinal sectional views in Figures 1,12 and 15 may be considered to represent one type and the correspondingviews of Figures 19, 25 and 29 may 105 be considered as another type,each gure of course representing different embodiments or modificationsand all involving fundamentally the same invention.

Considering first the structure shown in Fig- 110 ures 1-11 inclusivethe invention is illustrated specifically as a differential drive, suchas used in automobiles, but this is merely for illustrative purposes. Asshown an outer housing 34 is employed, carrying internal spiders 35having rings 36. Between these rings there is located a rotatable cageconsisting of sections 37 bolted together, as illustrated at 38. A ringgear 39, fastened to the cage, is engaged and operated by a pinion 40carried by a drive shaft 41, which mayl extend to any suitable source ofpower, in

this instance being driven from the automobile engine as is readilyunderstood.

The cage 37 is provided with an internal chamber 42, which as will beclear by reference to Figure 2 is angular in cross section, and has endwalls 43 provided with openings 44. The inner faces 45 of the end walls43 constitute bearing surfaces.

Fitting in the'chamber 42 is a power transmitting yoke member. This ispreferably angular in cross section and consists of end walls 46 andside walls 47, the side walls operating against the inner faces 45 ofthe cages end walls 43. The walls 46 of this power transmitting member,as will be clear Aby reference 4to Figure 3, t the inner faces of theadjacent walls of the cage, so that this power transmitting yoke memberhas only a rectilinear reciprocatory. movement in the chamber 42. Theend walls 47 of this outer transmitting member are spaced apart toreceive an inner power transmitting yoke member 48, which has a slidingfit between the walls 46 and consequently has only a rectilinearreciprocatory movement in the outer yoke member. Andy by reference toFigure 3, it will be seen that the outer yoke member and the inner yokemember are capable only of reciprocal movement in the chamber 42 of thecage in parellel relation. That is to say they have no gyratory movementinsofar as the cage is concerned.

Extending longitudinally in the outer housing .34 are shafts 49, theseshafts preferably having roller bearings 50 in the rings 36 of thespiders 35. The shafts extend through the openings 44 in the end walls43 of the cage A49, being preferably cut from the material thereof. As aconsequence it will be noted that each w-rist is of less diameter thanthe shaft and that the two are located within the projection of thecylindrical surface of the shaft. In the present embodiment thesewrists, as shown. in Figure 7, have their axes set at an angle ofdegrees. By reason of this construction, it will be evident that theinner ends of the shafts and the wrists can be inserted through theopenings 47 of the end walls 43 of the cage and removed therethrough.The inner wrists 52 are located within the inner yoke 48, and rotatablyfitted on said wrists 52 are shoes or boxes 53 having a rectangular formso as to flt the yoke member 48 and reciprocate therein at right anglesto the direction of reciprocation of the yoke 48 in the outer yoke 46.As shown in Figures 2' and 8 these shoes 53 are each preferably made ofone piece, though this is not essential but they can be so constructedinasmuch as the inner wrists 52 can be readily inserted and removedtherefrom.

The outer wrists 51, as shown in Figure 1, are

.shown at 54h. Indeed it has been found that located within the endwalls 47 of the outer yoke member, and these wrists 51 are journaled insectional shoes 54 (see Figure 9), which can be thus placed around thewrists 5l and fitted into the angular apertures' formed in the end walls47 of said outer yoke member. In Figure 9 the sectional shoes are shownas diametrically severed, but as illustrated in Figure 10 they may bemade up of sections 54a diagonally out, as

instead of yokes completely surrounding 'the wrists, at wear plates asshown at 54e in Figure 11 may be employed lplaced on opposite sides ofsaid wrists.

When this structure is employed, as in a differential, as long as thetwo shafts 49 will rotate in the same direction, they are positivelylocked together when a driving force is applied to the cage through thedriving shaft 41, the pinion 40 and the ring gear 39. Thus if on anautomobile, if one of the drive wheels xed to one of the shafts 49should have a tendency to slip, as for example, when it runs into mud orthe like, the other shaft will still have power applied to it, and ifthe wheel thereof is on hard ground, its traction will still beeffective. Nevertheless if one of the shafts rotates in the oppositedirection with respect to the other, as' in turning a corner, or thelike, one shaft may overrun the other and a differential driving effectis obtained.

It will be noted particularly by reference to Figure 1, that thestructure is exceedingly compact, the outer cage and the inner powertransmitting yoke members being directly associated and related so thatthere is no waste space within or about the same. 'Ihis makes itpossible to utilize the structure within the connes of the ordinarydifferential housing, such as illustrated at 34. More than that thestructure is made up of simple parts that can be easily and cheaplyproduced and readily assembled. In like manner the assembly can be asreadily dismounted and worn or injured parts easily substituted. Thiswill be evident when it is considered that the sections of the cage maybe taken apart, giving access to the yoke members, and that the shaftsas heretofore stated with their integral wrists can be removed throughthe end openings and replaced therein.

While the invention is here illustrated as apvplied to an automobiledifferential, it is obvious Athe cage is held against rotation, theother shaft will bel rotated in an opposite direction. If power isapplied to one of the shafts and the other shaft is held, the cage willbe rotate at half the speed of the driving shaft. If either shaft isheld against rotation 'and power is applied to the cage, the other shaftwill be rotated at double the speed of the cage. Thus variousapplications of the invention may be made. Y

In Figures 12, 13 and 14, another embodiment of the invention isillustrated, but it involves the same type as that already described.The gear housing is here designated 55 and the rotatable cage is shownat 56. The cage in this form of 145 construction has a chamber 57 thatis circular in cross section and the peripheral walls of `the cage areprovided with radial openings 58. As a matter of fact, the cage hereindisclosed is that common to gear differentials and the drivinglstructure is such that it may be placed in such a cage. The outer yokemember is designated generally by the reference numeral 59 and has itsend walls bearing against the end walls 60 of the cage. yoke member 61slidably engaged with said end walls 59, and in this instance carryingoutstanding stems 62 that reciprocate in certain of the openings 58, itbeing understood that these openings are those that ordinarily receivethe spindles on which are mounted the differential gears of the ordinarydifferential mechanism.

The shafts are designated 63 and are provided with outer wrists 64 andinner wrists 65. These rotate in shoes 66 and 67 that reciprocate in therespective yokes. By reference to Figure 13 it will be noted that theinner yoke has a rectilinear reciprocal movement in the outer yoke andthat the outer yoke receives its power from the inner yoke, which inturn has power transmitted to it from the cage through the stem 62. Theoperation of this structure is the same as that already described, andit has the same advantages. The slight modifications in structure,however make it possible to be substituted for a gear differential inthe ordinary 'ring gear casing or cage now in common use. Some of thesegear differentials now employ but two differential gears. Others havefour such gears. It will be noted that by providing the yoke member 61with but two stems'62, the device can be substituted for either form.

A form of construction not greatly differing from the above twoembodiments is illustrated in Figures 15-18 inclusive. In thisembodiment the housing is designated 68 and within the same is shown arotatable cage 69 corresponding substantially to those already describedand includ ing end walls 70. The outer yoke member is shown at '71 andhas a reciprocatory engagement with the end walls 70. It is providedwith spaced oppositely extending fingers 72 that are slidably engaged insockets or seats 73 formed in the peripheral wall of the cage 69,thereby providing for the reciprocation-of the yoke 71 and also securingan interfltting connection that insures the yoke rotating with the cage.The inner yoke member is designated 74 and is capable of rectilinearreciprocation in the outer yoke member, said latter member havingguideways 75 that receive the opposite sides of the inner yoke member74.

The shafts are shown at 76 and are provided with terminal outer wrists77 surrounded by shoes 78 that reciprocate in the end walls of the outeryoke 71.4 Inner wrists 79 are journaled in shoes 80 that reciprocate inthe inner yoke. The operation of this form of invention is the same asthat already described. It is a preferred form for new constructions andhas structural features of strength, which make it perhaps advantageousover the embodiment illustrated in Figures 12, 13 and 14.

In the structure shown in Figures 19-24 inclu sive, certain of thewrists have their axes located diametrcally opposite or at an angle of180 degrees (see Figure 23). In this embodiment also the other wristsare on a common axis. Indeed it may be said that a single wrist isemployed on one shaft as against two on the other. (See Figure 24.)

In this form of construction the housing is designated 81 and thesectional cage therein is shown at 82. It is provided with an internalchamber 83 and in the form shown carries a ring Within this yoke 59 islocated the innergear 84 engaged and operated by a pinion 85 on a driveshaft 86. 'I'he end walls of the cage are shown at 87. The chamber 83 inthis form of construction is angular in cross section, as shown inFigure 20, and the outer yoke member 88 has a rectilinear reciprocatorymovement in the chamber 83, by reason of its opposite walls beingengaged with corresponding opposite walls of the chamber.

Likewise the yoke 88 has its end walls 89 slidably engaging the innerfaces of the end walls 87 of the cage. The inner yoke member 90, locatedwithin the yoke member 88, has a rectilinear reciprocatory movement atright angles to the direction of movement of the yoke member 88 v(seeFigure 20), by reason of its engagement with the other two walls of thechamber 83 to those engaged by the yoke 88. The two shafts aredesignated 91 and 92. The shaft 91 has an outer wrist 93 rotating in ashoe 94 that reciprocates in one of the end walls 89 of the outer yoke88. It has an inner wrist 95 set diametrically opposite to the wrist 93(see Figure 23) and operating in a shoe 96 that has a reciprocal bearingin the inner -yoke and at right angles to the direction of movement ofthe shoe 94. While the other shaft 92 may have wrists variouslyarranged, in the present embodiment it has a single wrist 97, or thiswrist .may be considered as two unitary wrists located in alinement.Rotatably operated on the wrist 97 is an outer shoe 98 that reciprocatesin the adjacent wall 89 of the o uter yoke member, and a second shoe 99in which the inner end of the wrist 97 is journaled, reciprocates in theyoke 90. This produces a very simple form of construction and yet onethat is exceedingly compact in that it has al1 the advantageousstructural features heretofore explained.

In Figures 25-28 inclusive, there is disclosed a form of structureparticularly adapted for utilization in the ring gear case or cage of anordinary gear differential mechanism and can be bodily substitutedtherefor. 'I'herein the housing is designated 100, and rotatably locatedtherein is the cage 101 having the usual chamber 102. The outer yokemember is designated 103 and as shown in Figure 28 may be circular inform, providing end walls 104 having angular openings 105. Stems 106project from opposite sides of this member 103 and slidably engage inthe openings 107 of the cage 101, these openings 107 being ordinarilyemployed for the reception of the differential gear spindles. Within theouter yoke member 103 and slidable transversely thereof is the inneryoke member 108 having an angular opening 109, and provided withoutstanding stems 110 that as shown in Figure 26, engage in other of theopenings 107 of the cage.

The shafts 111 and 112 are provided, one with diametrically oppositewrists 113 and the other with a single wrist 114 that is of a lengthequal to the two wrists 113. The outer wrist 113 and the outer portionof the wrist 114 are journaled in shoes 115 that reciprocate in theopenings 105. The inner wrist 113 and the inner end of the wrist 114 arelikewise journaled in shoes 116 that reciprocate in the opening 109 ofthe yoke 108. Obviously the operation of this structure is similar tothat above described.

The structure illustrated in Figures 29-33 inelusive is stronger thanthat of Figures 25-28 inclusive and while it may be utilized in theordinary gear case, is a complete novel entity. In

. in detail in Figure 32, has spaced end walls 122 vprovided withangular openings 123 and has extensions 124 that are slidably mounted inchannels 125 formed in the peripheral wall of the cage 118. Locatedwithin the yoke 121 and reciprocating transversely thereof is the inner'y yoke 126 provided with an angular opening 127 and having oppositelyextending stems 128 that engage in openings 129 formed in the cage.

The shafts are shown at 130 and 131. The shaft 130 is provided with anouter wrist 132 and a terminal inner wrist 133. The wrist 132 issurrounded by a sectional collar 134 operating in the opening 123 of oneof the end walls 122 of the outer yoke 121. 'I'he inner wrist 133rotates in a shoe 135 that reciprocates in the opening 127 of theinner/yoke member 126. The shaft 131 is provided lwith a single wrist136 having on its outer portionsa bearing shoe 137 that operates in theopening 123 of the other end wall 122 that is opposite to that engagedby the wrist 132. The inner end of the wrist 136 carries a shoe 138 thatoperates alongside the shoe 135 in the opening 127 of the yoke 126.

Here too the operation is the same as in the previously describedstructures, but it will be noted that the outer yoke 121 has strongterminal interlocking engagements with the cage 118 and that the inneryoke also has its stems 128 slidably interlocked with the cage.

It has been found dangerous and inefficient for the traction wheels of amotor car to vary from a uniform speed or rotation, excepting when thecar is negotiating curves. In all the structures heretofore disclosedthe traction wheels fixed to the shafts will remain in fixed rotaryrelation as if they were one unit, unless the said wheels are calledupon to travel different distances due to curves in the road. This fixedrelation obtains from the fact that the torque of the motor applied tothe cage causes the movable parts therein to grip or clutch through thecontacting surfaces, so that the cage and its movable contents become asone united entity acting against differentiation on the part of thewheels. The energy ofthe motor is thus distributed through the cage andits elements so that the' bearing surfaces become rigidly associated andthe wheel that would otherwise spin in case of unequal traction becomesa sufficient lever having a fulcrum so that even if that wheel wereclearof the road, the two wheels would still turn together, resulting inthe total traction being employed to drive the car by the other wheel.On the other hand when the wheels are required to travel differentdistances due to curves, exactly opposite results obtain by reason ofthe contrary leverage that is then brought into action and one isallowed to overrim the other due to what is in effect opposite rotationsof the two wheels. It thus occurs that the operation of this structureis exactly opposite to the ordinary gear differential in that the wheelscannot be compelled to take individual rotation under the impulses ofthe motor as this individual rotation must come from the road and notfrom the motor. In other' words the motor drives the wheels underordinary conditions as if they were one and at the same time the wheelsby reason of their traction free themselves from the automatic clutchingaction to the extent they need freedom to meet their individual roaddistances due to curves.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation andmany advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art without further description and it will beunderstood that various changes inthe size, shape, proportion and minordetails of construction may be resorted`to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim, is:

1. In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with shaft members,of a chambered cage having opposite side walls provided with openings inwhich the shaft members rotate, relatively reciprocatory interfittedyoke members in the chamber of the cage, one of said yoke members havingits outer sides slidable against the ends of the cage, the otheryokemember having its outer sides engaged with the inner sides of the firstyoke member, said yokes being thereby held against lateral displacementin the cage, and eccentric wrists on the inner ends of the shaft membersand removable through the openings in the cage walls, said wrists beinglocated in the cage and operating on the yoke members.

2. In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with a chamberedcage having walls provided with openings, of yokes movably mountedtherein and having bearings against the cage, and shaft elementsextending through the wall openings and having wrists of less diameterthan the shafts operating on the yokes and removable through saidopenings.

3. In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with a chamberedcage, of yokes movably mounted therein and having bearings against thecage, and shaft elements having a plurality of wrists, each of lessdiameter than the diameter of the shafts and located within the diameterof the latter, said wrists operating on the yokes.

4. In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with a chamberedcasing having a chamber provided with substantially fiat faced endWalls, of separate shaft members extending through the end walls, areciprocatory yoke in the chamber having spaced side walls, the outerfaces of which bear against the inner faces of the cages end walls, asecond reciprocatory yoke fitted between and having its opposite facesslidable against the spaced walls of the rst yoke,- and wrists upon theinner ends of the shaft members and having engagements with the yokes,said wrists being of less diameter than the shafts and located withinthe circumference of the same.

5. In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with a. chamberedcage having end walls provided with openings, of shafts having innerends provided with terminal wrists eccen tric to the axes of the shafts,said shafts and their wrists being in assembled relation insertiblethrough and removable from the openings in the end walls, and powertransmitting yoke members in the cage operated by the wrists and havingmovable bearings on the cage.

6. In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with an outercasing, of a chambered cage rotatably located in the casing and meansfor rotating the cage, said cage having end walls provided with openingsand having inner bearing faces, shafts having inner ends provided withterminal wrists, said shafts and their wrists being in assembledrelation insertible through and removable from the openings in the endwalls, an outer power transmitting yoke member having spaced wallsslidably mounted on the end casing walls and operated by certain of thewrists of the shafts, and a second power transmitting yoke member havingsides slidably mounted on the walls of the first yoke member.

7. In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with a chamberedcage, of shafts extending thereinto and having integral inner and outerangularly disposed eccentric wrists located side by side on their innerends, power transmitting yoke members in the cage, surroundingu thewrists, and bearing shoes mounted on the wrists and having slidingbearings on the yoke members, the shoes of the outer wrists comprisingseparable sections that are interposed between the ends of the shaftsand the inner wrists. c

8. In power transmitting mechanism, the combination with an outercasing, of a rotatable chambered cage therein, and means for rotatingthe cage, said cage having end walls provided with openings and innerbearing faces, an outer power transmitting yoke member located withinthe chamber of the cage and having spaced side walls slidablycooperating with the inner sides of the cages end walls, an inner powertransmitting yoke member slidably mounted between and cooperating withthe side walls of the outer yoke member, the yoke members being therebyheld against lateral displacement, shafts extending through the openingsin the end walls and having outer wrists located Within the side wallsof the outer yoke member, bearing shoes on the said wrists rotatedthereby and reciprocating against the said 'side walls, terminal wristson the rst wrists located within the inner yoke member, and bearingshoes on the terminal wrists and having reciprocatory bearings againstthe inner yoke member.

ARTHUR W. ARNOLD.

